HONOLULU (AP) — After water polo practice at her school atop a hill overlooking Honolulu Harbor, Kapua Ong, a 14-year-old student, reflects on the sunset and her journey through a competitive admission process to Kamehameha Schools. I do feel proud of myself for getting in because not everyone gets accepted,” she expresses, expressing gratitude for the opportunities that the school provides.
The preference given to Native Hawaiians in admissions is part of Kamehameha Schools' mission, established by the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, to improve educational outcomes for the indigenous community. However, this longstanding policy is now facing legal challenges from Students for Fair Admissions, led by Edward Blum, which aims to expand the legal definition of racial discrimination in education.
Conservative activists have seized upon recent Supreme Court rulings that have curtailed affirmative action, motivating them to target educational institutes that favor racial or ethnic demographics. The challenge comes as Kamehameha Schools boasts a substantial endowment aimed at fundraising for programs benefiting Native Hawaiian students over other demographic groups.
Some local leaders and alumni are rallying behind Kamehameha, arguing that the school fulfills a necessary role amid socio-economic challenges faced by the Native Hawaiian community. Alumni like Andria Tupola emphasize the importance of maintaining the admissions preference, highlighting the significant disparity in educational achievement in Hawaii's larger context.
The school is often seen as a beacon of hope for many Hawaiian families, offering not only quality education but also a connection to cultural heritage. The ongoing legal dispute underscores the complexities surrounding racial classifications in educational policies and their implications on wider societal equity.
Supporters of Kamehameha point to its impact on reversing historical injustices while critics insist that merit should take precedence over ethnicity in admissions. As this debate unfolds, the future of Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy remains uncertain, raising questions about how society navigates race and equality in education.
